Memphis University School Photo - Founded in 1893, Memphis University School provides an exceptional education for boys in grades 7-12.

Oldest Private Elementary Schools in Tennessee

The average private elementary school in Tennessee was founded around 1972 (2024-25).
The oldest private elementary school in Tennessee is St. Mary's Episcopal School, founded in 1847.
Year Founded Range: 1847 1950 Avg. Year Founded: 1901

Oldest Private Elementary Schools in Tennessee (2024-25)

School
Founding Date
Grades
Location
Rank: #11.
St. Mary's Episcopal School
St. Mary's Episcopal School Photo - Each girl's program of study is as unique as she is. Every year, we meet one-on-one with each girl and her family to discuss course options that best fit her interests, goals, and extracurricular life.
All-girls (Episcopal)
(2)
Founding Date: 1847
Grades: NS-12
60 Perkins Extended
Memphis, TN 38117
(901) 537-1472
Rank: #22.
St. Agnes Academy and St. Dominic School
St. Agnes Academy and St. Dominic School Photo - Teachers foster meaningful connections and offer support so every student feels a sense of belonging.
(Catholic)
(7)
Founding Date: 1851
Grades: PK-12
4830 Walnut Grove Rd
Memphis, TN 38117
(901) 435-5819
Rank: #33.
St. Cecilia Academy
St. Cecilia Academy Photo - Situated on 83 acres in the heart of West Nashville, St. Cecilia Academy is the oldest continually running high school in the area. Girls in grades 7-12 get an exemplary education as part of the Dominican Difference.
All-girls (Catholic)
(2)
Founding Date: 1860
Grades: 7-12
4210 Harding Pike
Nashville, TN 37205
(615) 298-4525
Rank: #44.
Harpeth Hall School
Harpeth Hall School Photo - The Harpeth Hall student is an independent thinker, a thoughtful risk-taker, a problem solver, a clarion voice, an authentic spirit, and an empathetic friend.
All-girls
Founding Date: 1865
Grades: 5-12
3801 Hobbs Road
Nashville, TN 37215
(615) 297-9543
Rank: #55.
St. Bernard Academy
St. Bernard Academy Photo - SBA strives to connect our students' head, heart, and hands with various projects throughout the year. Service learning is incorporated at every level.
(Catholic)
Founding Date: 1866
Grades: NS-8
2304 Bernard Avenue
Nashville, TN 37212
(615) 385-0440
Rank: #66.
Montgomery Bell Academy
Montgomery Bell Academy Photo - Montgomery Bell Academy's 146th Commencement
All-boys
(1)
Founding Date: 1867
Grades: 7-12
4001 Harding Road
Nashville, TN 37205
(615) 298-5514
Rank: #77.
St. Andrew's-sewanee School
St. Andrew's-sewanee School Photo - One of the South's Most Beautiful High Schools, as chosen by Southern Living magazine, the school's 550-acre campus, including forests, bluffs and two lakes, offers abundant opportunities for outdoor recreation. A school farm, on-going wetlands study, and LEED Gold science building are just a few of the ways our campus also serves as learning lab.
(Episcopal)
Founding Date: 1868
Grades: 6-12
290 Quintard Rd
Sewanee, TN 37375
(931) 463-2163
Rank: #88.
First Lutheran School
First Lutheran School Photo - Our students perform consistently above and beyond state academic standards.
(Lutheran Church Missouri Synod)
Founding Date: 1869
Grades: PK-8
1207 Broadway St
Knoxville, TN 37917
(865) 524-0308
Rank: #99.
The Webb School
The Webb School Photo
(13)
Founding Date: 1870
Grades: 6-12
319 Webb Road East
Bell Buckle, TN 37020
(931) 389-6003
Rank: #1010.
St. Marys School
St. Marys School Photo - St. Mary's is the longest, consistently running parochial school in TN, founded by The Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia, in Nashville, in 1878.
(Catholic)
(3)
Founding Date: 1878
Grades: PK-8
1665 Hwy 45 By Pass
Jackson, TN 38305
(731) 668-2525
Rank: #1111.
The King's Academy
The King's Academy Photo
(Baptist)
Founding Date: 1880
Grades: PK-12
202 Smothers Rd
Seymour, TN 37865
(865) 573-8321
Rank: #1212.
Belvoir Christian Academy
Belvoir Christian Academy Photo
(Lutheran Church Missouri Synod)
(4)
Founding Date: 1887
Grades: PK-8
800 Belvoir Ave
Chattanooga, TN 37412
(423) 622-3755
Rank: #1313.
Battle Ground Academy
Battle Ground Academy Photo - Middle School Art
(2)
Founding Date: 1889
Grades: K-12
336 Ernest Rice Lane
Franklin, TN 37069
(615) 794-3501
Rank: #1414.
Lipscomb Academy
Lipscomb Academy Photo - At Lipscomb Academy, the Endeavor Program empowers students to reach new heights through innovative, hands-on learning experiences that foster creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking. With a flexible schedule, students can tailor their learning to fit their individual needs and interests, ensuring they thrive both academically and personally.
(Church of Christ)
(3)
Founding Date: 1891
Grades: NS-12
3901 Granny White Pike
Nashville, TN 37204
(615) 966-1600
Rank: #15 - 1615. - 16.
Baylor School
Baylor School Photo - Baylor's 690-acre campus is located on the Tennessee River and surrounded by mountains.
Founding Date: 1893
Grades: 6-12
171 Baylor School Road
Chattanooga, TN 37405
(423) 267-5902
Rank: #15 - 1615. - 16.
Memphis University School
Memphis University School Photo - Founded in 1893, Memphis University School provides an exceptional education for boys in grades 7-12.
All-boys
Founding Date: 1893
Grades: 6-12
6191 Park Avenue
Memphis, TN 38119
(901) 260-1304
Rank: #1717.
Hutchison School
Hutchison School Photo - At Hutchison, girls discover the joy of learning.
All-girls
(8)
Founding Date: 1902
Grades: NS-12
1740 Ridgeway Rd
Memphis, TN 38119
(901) 762-6672
Rank: #1818.
McCallie School
McCallie School Photo - McCallie offers hundreds of weekend activities all year long, from intramural sports on campus to out-of-town trips to concerts, sporting events, and outdoor activities. No matter what you're interested in, McCallie has an activity to match it.
All-boys (Christian)
(4)
Founding Date: 1905
Grades: 6-12
500 Dodds Avenue
Chattanooga, TN 37404
(423) 624-8300
Rank: #19 - 2019. - 20.
Girls Preparatory School
All-girls
Founding Date: 1906
Grades: 6-12
205 Island Avenue
Chattanooga, TN 37405
(423) 634-7600
Rank: #19 - 2019. - 20.
Madison Campus Elementary School
(Seventh Day Adventist)
Founding Date: 1906
Grades: PK-8
1515 Sutherland Dr
Madison, TN 37115
(615) 865-4575
Rank: #21 - 2221. - 22.
Knoxville Adventist School
Alternative School (Seventh Day Adventist)
Founding Date: 1910
Grades: K-8
3615 Kingston Pike
Knoxville, TN 37919
(865) 522-9929
Rank: #21 - 2221. - 22.
Memphis Junior Academy
Memphis Junior Academy Photo
(Seventh Day Adventist)
(1)
Founding Date: 1910
Grades: PK-10
50 N Mendenhall Rd
Memphis, TN 38117
(901) 683-1061
Rank: #2323.
St. Mary's School
St. Mary's School Photo - Our school flower garden allows us to get outside occasionally, soak in some sunshine, and get our hands dirty!
(Catholic)
(1)
Founding Date: 1911
Grades: PK-8
2211 E Lakeview Dr
Johnson City, TN 37601
(423) 282-3397
Rank: #2424.
The Bright School
The Bright School Photo
(2)
Founding Date: 1913
Grades: NS-5
1950 McDade Lane
Chattanooga, TN 37405
(423) 267-8546
Rank: #2525.
Founding Date: 1915
Grades: K-12
2000 Edgehill Avenue
Nashville, TN 37212
(615) 321-8000
Rank: #2626.
St. Ann School
St. Ann School Photo - Science Experiments
(Catholic)
Founding Date: 1921
Grades: PK-8
5105 Charlotte Pike
Nashville, TN 37209
(615) 269-0565
Rank: #2727.
Lausanne Collegiate School
Lausanne Collegiate School Photo - Lausanne Collegiate School is dedicated to small class sizes and differentiation for students. There are many opportunities for one-on-one time with teachers for better understanding of concepts. Classes offer the opportunity for open dialogue and reflection in addition to inquiry and research.
(10)
Founding Date: 1926
Grades: NS-12
1381 W Massey Rd
Memphis, TN 38120
(901) 474-1000
Rank: #2828.
Overbrook Catholic School
Overbrook Catholic School Photo - Students petting sheep at Beyond the Brook Farm, an extension of the STEM program at Overbrook Catholic School in Nashville, TN.
(Catholic)
(3)
Founding Date: 1936
Grades: PK-6
4210 Harding Pike
Nashville, TN 37205
(615) 292-5134
Rank: #29 - 3029. - 30.
Christ The King School
Christ The King School Photo
(Catholic)
Founding Date: 1937
Grades: PK-8
3105 Belmont Blvd
Nashville, TN 37212
(615) 292-9465
Rank: #29 - 3029. - 30.
Our Lady Of Perpetual Help School
Our Lady Of Perpetual Help School Photo
(Catholic)
(6)
Founding Date: 1937
Grades: PK-8
505 South Moore Rd
Chattanooga, TN 37412
(423) 622-1481
Rank: #31 - 3231. - 32.
Grace-St. Luke's Episcopal School
Grace-St. Luke's Episcopal School Photo - Historic Miss Lee's Preschool at GSL offers a play-based curriculum serving ages 2 to 4 in multiple Little Lukers, Pre-Kindergarten, and Junior Kindergarten classrooms. Miss Lee's celebrates 100 years in Memphis in 2024!
(Episcopal)
(8)
Founding Date: 1947
Grades: NS-8
246 S. Belvedere Blvd.
Memphis, TN 38104
(901) 278-0200
Rank: #31 - 3231. - 32.
Immanuel Lutheran School
Immanuel Lutheran School Photo - Worship, praise, prayer and song are all a part of our school chapel services every Wednesday. 3rd graders share the song Great Big God!
(Lutheran Church Missouri Synod)
(5)
Founding Date: 1947
Grades: NS-8
6319 Raleigh Lagrange Road
Memphis, TN 38134
(901) 388-0205
Rank: #3333.
Standifer Gap Sda School
Standifer Gap Sda School Photo
(Seventh Day Adventist)
(1)
Founding Date: 1948
Grades: K-8
8255 Standifer Gap Road
Chattanooga, TN 37421
(423) 892-6013
Rank: #3434.
Presbyterian Day School
Presbyterian Day School Photo - PDS
All-boys (Christian)
(3)
Founding Date: 1949
Grades: PK-6
4025 Poplar Avenue
Memphis, TN 38111
(901) 842-4600
Rank: #3535.
St. Marys School
St. Marys School Photo
(Catholic)
(2)
Founding Date: 1950
Grades: PK-8
323 Vermont Avenue
Oak Ridge, TN 37830
(865) 483-9700
Show 100 more private schools in TN (out of 211 total schools)
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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Tennessee average private elementary schools founding year?
The Tennessee average private elementary schools founding year is 1972 for 2024-25.
What are the private elementary schools with oldest founding year in Tennessee?
The top ranked private elementary schools in Tennessee include St. Mary's Episcopal School, St. Agnes Academy and St. Dominic School and St. Cecilia Academy.

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